Will Falcons 'Rise Up' Against 49ers To Reach the Super Bowl?

If ever there was a time to "rise up." The Atlanta Falcons are a win away from the Super Bowl.

And it will be determined Sunday (January 20) in the Georgia Dome, the first time Atlanta has ever hosted the NFC Championship Game. The visitors are the San Francisco 49ers. (Game time, 3 p.m., FOX)

This is only the second time Atlanta has gone this far in the playoffs. The previous time was after the 1998 season, when the Falcons, under coach Dan Reeves, had to travel to Minnesota to play for the Super Bowl slot. And in that game, the Falcons pulled off a memorable upset to reach their only Super Bowl.

-- Will the Falcons win Sunday to reach the Super Bowl? If so, will they play New England or Baltimore? Share your predictions in the comments below.

This time, the Falcons have an offense built around QB Matt Ryan and receivers Julio Jones, Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, who is likely a future Hall of Famer.

That will present a unique challenge to the 49ers, especially cornerback Carlos Rogers, an Augusta native and Atlanta resident in the offseason.

I’m still a fan of the Falcons,” Rogers told The Washington Post. “Just not this week.”

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Falcons fans, take note. Despite the team's strong home record this year and their No. 1 playoff seeding, the team is a five-point underdog to the 49ers, according to Bleacher Report.

Also, according to an ESPN blog, the 49ers have a strong record this season when facing a top QB, such as the Falcons' Ryan.

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